1809 - Herubieszow is annexed to the Duchy of Warsaw – Congress Poland. 1874 – Dedication of the Great Synagogue.

The 19th Century – The Era of Enlightment (Haskala) reaches Hrubieszow Famous personalities: The physician Dr. Kalmanson, mathematician & inventor Abraham Stern, Simha Pinsker, Dr. Goldschmidt & his sons, Josef & Jakob the advocates.

Along the traditional social Jewish institutions, there were a Jewish printing press, a Jewish hospital, initiated by the town’s rabbi, Rav Josef Katznelbogen & Jewish schools.

At that time there are 5,350 Jews; the total population was 10,636 .

At the beginning of the 20th century the Jewish population is mostly religious, consisting of Hasidim & Mitnagdim, leading an orthodox life style. New winds are blowing - Zionism & Socialism attract the Jewish youth & instigate intense cultural & social activities.

Between the World Wars many of Hrubieszow Jews emigrate – to Eretz Israel & to America, the New World – hoping to find a better life.

In 1939 there are 7,500 Jews in Hrubieszow

1809 - Herubieszow is annexed to the Duchy of Warsaw – Congress Poland. 1874 – Dedication of the Great Synagogue.

The 19th Century – The Era of Enlightment (Haskala) reaches Hrubieszow Famous personalities: The physician Dr. Kalmanson, mathematician & inventor Abraham Stern, Simha Pinsker, Dr. Goldschmidt & his sons, Josef & Jakob the advocates.

Along the traditional social Jewish institutions, there were a Jewish printing press, a Jewish hospital, initiated by the town’s rabbi, Rav Josef Katznelbogen & Jewish schools.

At that time there are 5,350 Jews; the total population was 10,636 .

At the beginning of the 20th century the Jewish population is mostly religious, consisting of Hasidim & Mitnagdim, leading an orthodox life style. New winds are blowing - Zionism & Socialism attract the Jewish youth & instigate intense cultural & social activities.

Between the World Wars many of Hrubieszow Jews emigrate – to Eretz Israel & to America, the New World – hoping to find a better life.

In 1939 there are 7,500 Jews in Hrubieszow

      Map of the Jewish QuarterMap of the Jewish Quarter       (drawn from memory by Abraham Silberstein)

The Old Market Place

The Public Bath-house

Residence of Rabbi Wertheim

Town Hall

The Cemetery

Market Place

The Pharmacy The Council

The Syndicate House

Dam

Church

The Great Synagogue

Shools (Beth Hamidrash)

Flour mill

Church

The Zamosz Bridge

The Cinema

The Cinema

Panska Street, which was later named Third of May Street. It was the most elegant street in town, paved and lined with trees, a central place for leisure. At the end of the street there were two cinemas "Russalka" and "Oasis". Many Jewish people spent enjoyable hours there, and the religious made sure to bypass it.

Staszitz Street – This was a central street, at the beginning of which stood a house with an elevated balcony, overlooking the surrounding streets. There was the "Monopol" the liqueur store, frequented by farmers who entered thirsty and left drunk. It was a lively and tumultuous area, the central point of departure for carriages and carts to the railway station.

In the new market place, between Panska and Lubelska streets, there were several kiosks, selling soda water and ice cream, popular with friends and couples.

In a corner of the market there was the workshop of the goldsmith Shlomo Bucza’s, who worked with his sons and grandsons. The workshop was also a center for information and gossip.

The park near the Syndicate House (The Farmers’ Organization) was a popular meeting place, and served as backdrop for many photographs...

Young men in the park by the Syndicate Building, Hrubieszow, 1935

Tuesday’s weekly fair took place in the Rinek, the town center. It was the week’s main event in Hrubieszow, anticipated by all, old and young. It was a long and exhausting day, with much hustle and bustle, but it put bread on the table. Farmers from the surrounding villages came with carts laden with products; they sold them to the Jews who in turn sold it in their shops. They also did their own shopping, usually making their last stop in the pubs 

and liquor stores.

Fobrezan Road – before there were trains in Hrubieszow, this was the main road to Zamoscz. After Hrubieszow was connected to the railway net, it was used only by grain stores and flour mills owners.

The train was the main transport for long distances… The old railway station on the line of Zamoscz – Ludmir was an important milestone for many Jews. From this station they emigrated to Eretz Israel and to other countries. During World War II it served as the “Umschlagsplatz” – point of  departure to the death camps in Belzec, Sobibor and Maidanek; it was destroyed during the war.

The Huczwa river surrounds Hrubieszow. At one point the river becomes larger and is contained by a dam, called the Shlouze, full of young people on the week-end. Along the river banks there were orchards and gardens. Before Shabbat people came to swim and to bathe in the river, men 

and women separately, of course.

Sailing on Huczwa river, 1936

People hired boats for their pleasure

Yehudah Hofman and Reizel Dimenstein (on the left) & in the company of a girl (on the right) sailing on the Huczwa, Hrubieszow 1935

The more daring and less religious youth came in bathing costumes.

Yehudah Hofman (who came from Eretz Israel to bring his bride back with him) and his niece under the bridge of the Huczwa River, Hrubieszow 1935

Children spent many pleasant days here during the summer…

Zlate Reichman (Miller ) & her daughters Malka & Haya on the River Huczwa, Hrubieszow 1937

...and enjoyed the frozen river in the winter.

1934Friends in a winter day, Herubieszow